Our Story

Goodman Jones’ founder Fred Goodman started his business in 1934 from a room in his mother’s house in the East End of London. From humble beginnings he quickly established a successful firm helped by businesses from the local community keen to sign up as clients to support a local entrepreneur.

A steady start saw the firm grow to five partners and by the 1960s it was an established reputable firm of Chartered Accountants with offices in Holborn.   It was the move to our first offices when we acquired the name we use today and attests to Fred Goodman’s entrepreneurial spirit. 

GJ folklore relates that a BT engineer was installing the phone line and asked the name of the company.  “Goodman & Co,"  came the reply to which the phone engineer suggested that having more than one name would give increased gravitas to the business.  At that point the milkman happened to be making his delivery and was asked his name.  “Jones,” he said. 

Success and growth continued and a strategic decision was taken to move to the West End of London and offices were taken in Portland Place. That move helped the business to expand and on 1 January 1980 it had grown and required larger offices. We then relocated to what was to become our home for 45 years in Fitzroy Square.

Originally the firm serviced businesses in the East End of London mainly in the rag trade. As it grew and moved it diversified and while we still look after some of the original family clients of ‘Mr Goodman’, our client base now extends all over the country and internationally and covers business across many sectors.

However, a sense of family is still at our heart in terms of our culture and what’s most important to us. It is also reflected in our client base which includes many families and family businesses. We are delighted that so many of our clients enjoy the relationship with the firm through the generations and that we have been able to play a part in helping their businesses grow into the successes they are today.

GJ Today

2024 marks our 90^th anniversary.   We are committed to remaining an independent firm with a primary belief that building an inclusive and sustainable business is about doing what’s best for the long term. That has guided us in terms of how we manage our own business and the environment we build for our people to flourish and make an impact.  It also informs the way we look after our clients, looking after their affairs as if they were our own and investing the time and expertise necessary to become their trusted business advisers.

New Office

October 2024 saw our move to Arthur Stanley House in W1, just off the vibrant Charlotte Street, and a short walk from Oxford Street. It marks a significant milestone in our commitment to creating a modern environment that fosters collaboration and creativity, and we see it as the ideal platform for the next phase of Goodman Jones' future. 

The move is part of our ongoing commitment to inclusivity and sustainability, with our new space having been thoughtfully designed to meet the diverse needs of our team and clients, ensuring a modern, adaptable working environment. 

Arthur Stanley House is built to best-in-class environmental standards and has earned a BREEAM Excellent rating, signifying its commitment to energy efficiency and minimising environmental impact. 

Commitment to Independence

“Being independent lets us prioritise what’s always been most important to us: building strong relationships, providing a personalised, valued service and creating a supportive environment for everyone at Goodman Jones.”

Julian Flitter
Managing Partner, Goodman Jones